I'll probably release Hotaru 1.4 soon so I've upgraded JapanSoc to it for a trial run. Most of the changes are deep in the murky depths of Hotaru's core and don't affect the front-end of the site. Nevertheless, let me know if you find anything broken and I'll endeavor to fix it.

Actually, while you're here, I'm not convinced the current home page is all that good and am considering reverting to the old format of listing top stories with summaries on the front page. What do you think? Does the current front page improve navigation and content discovery or hinder it?

A foreigner living with in-laws in Japan.
It's that time of the year again, my kids are on the summer camping plan with the in-laws again. Yes! I should be happy,estastic, so why aren't I?
Well, if you are a foreigner living in Japan with your in-laws for more than seven years at this point you must have gained great insights on " the family subconscious" control in Japan. Now, I know why the younger generation of married Japanese women refuse to live with the in-laws. I have no sympathy those in-laws....

On TV this morning they talked about how when an adult experiences 37 degrees, children, who are closer to the ground, feel 40 degrees. And it's even hotter for dogs! Nevertheless, the population continues unabated, and heat-stroke stricken construction workers fill hospital waiting rooms, and kids are still turning up for baseball practice. Madness. Can't Japan introduce siestas?

The problem with this community is that it isn't a community. More like a bunch of spoiled little whiners who complain about Japan and about how they don't fit in. And then you have these geeks who all they think about are toys, blow up dolls and stupid little flavored soft drink which aren't anything remotely associated with Japan.

Never been to community where there were so many prudes and sexually frustrated human beings that are allergic to any topic the broaches the subject of sex, because it's offensive, boohooh!. People beat their chests in everyday cause they can't learn Japanese, a language that has no real value outside of Japan other than to look even more geeky like most of you already look. What? You going to run and hide, cause you don't like the fat fascist American who tells you the truth? If I don't like you then I'm going to vote you out of the community because US whiners don't like you, because you enlighteat us and make us smarter than what we already are.

These are the biggest impressions of 98% of the people here, really. I mean there's some information out there that's useful, like with immigration and stuff like how-to-do this and that, but the rest is all crap self aggrandizing BS about how (un)Japanese people are on here, or how strange Japan is from their native countries.

Toilet roll oirigami??? Tokyo in six minutes? Haiykyos....? Are these things really YOUR idea of the Japan experience??? Maybe we can try $hit on sushi as a next topic and then maybe that'll get socked up to the top of the list!

Get a F%#%king grip people! There are people who would do anything to have a chance to live and work in this country - except you of course.

See pictures of the tree stump I dug out of our garden here. Anyone else at JapanSoc potter in a Japanese garden?

I was having breakfast over at Hapuna's this morning. You know the Shinagawa Prince Hotel on the first floor they have a fantastic breakfast from 7 to 10. Sometimes I wake up around six am and scoot down there to enjoy a nice Western style breakfast. Next to me was an older couple in their forties or fifties. The Jukujo sitting across from me kept opening and closing her legs.

Over at Hapuna's they have a row of seating over by the wall where the tables and chairs are very low. The Jukujo sitting across from me was wearing a knee long brown skirt and she just kept sitting there with her legs showing in my direction. I was sitting back watching a podcast with my iphone4, resting on my lap. I had changed the position of my phone and then she changed the position of her legs at the same time. At first I paid it very little attention. About a minute in she spread her legs open. Again, I didn't pay it too much attention since we were sitting in such close proximity. I had thought she was just being comfortable and forgot that she was wearing a skirt. This little tease went on for about 15 minutes then she adjusted her seat and sat up at the edge of the chair and spread her legs even further open then I knew she knew that there was something going on. When this couple finally left she gave me a seductive stare and walked away. Wow, what a morning.

I started this group to help everyone with Alexa Ranking, increase their Page Rank and drive organic viewers. Reviews increase Alexa Rank a lot. I will review every site and help you if you do the same. Very simple. Go to this URL http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/thesoulofjapan.blogspot.com# click on reviews and write a short review. I will do the same for you. If a bunch of us do it fantastic. Watch your Alexa Rank sky rocket!

This month's free Sakura magazine that us folks in Gifu get through the door had pages of ads for local firework displays including some huge ones like Gifu Nagara-gawa, Nagoya Port, Toyota and Okazaki, and some smaller events, too.

Of those smaller ones, my wife was particularly excited by the ad for Showa-mura's fireworks festival which was listed with the following crowd-pullers:

- An amazing photo
- 3,200 fireworks
- Accompanied by music
- Lawns to sit on
- Free entry (Showa-mura is a theme park)
- Only 10,000 people last year
- Parking for 3,000 cars

Compared to the other local events, this looked terrific so off we set early in the afternoon to get a good spot (and ride a horse called Cabbage) before the crowd arrived. All was going well, except the lawns were fenced off because they were too close to the action so we sat in a rare bit of shade with the ants, huddled together on a really small mat.

The local firemen turned up with trumpets, trombones and cymbals to entertain us while we waited and the crowds gathered. Anyone who has sat for two hours waiting for fireworks can imagine how hard it is with a 2-year-old (to his credit, nearly 3, and he didn't complain that much).

The start was delayed because it wasn't dark enough, but when it did begin, my son's eyes lit up and we were treated to something really special. Generally, Japanese fireworks shows are brilliant, and this was no exception. The first 15 minutes were timed to music and finished with a bang, and then all fell silent as we waited for the next round.

And that's when a great day flopped. 10,000 people looking around at each other with one question, "Owari?", and sure enough it was over. People got up and we started the long walk back to the car.

Listening to the crowds as we shuffled to the park entrance, it was clear everyone was thoroughly let down. I think it's fair to say that firework displays in Japan usually last for an hour, and sometimes longer. Unlike others, this one had no advertised duration, only that it would start at 7:30pm and the park would close at 9pm.

As for the advertised 3,200 fireworks, not even close. My wife was sorely disappointed, but to be honest, 15 minutes was just perfect for me. ;)

It's one of those high definition ones and it's kind of freaking me out. The picture is so clear, it makes real life look blurry...

Trying to find a japanese culture/language learning community to plug into.. so far I'm roaming Japansoc, Dannychoo, ToykoJapan Times, and Tofugu... anybody have any suggestions?

Maybe I'm just being too hasty... I just want to make sure I'm "clued in" on the Japan Culture blogs that are popular.. I want to be current too!! =)