The difference between green and black tea results from the manufacturing process. Black tea undergoes fermentation which transforms its colour and flavour, whereas green tea remains unprocessed and retains its colour. Green tea is grown in higher altitudes, more specifically the mountainous regions of East Asia. Some green tea is still picked by hand, and it is thought that handpicked teas are less bitter and yield a sweeter, more robust taste. Other factors such as the climate and soil can also affect the flavour.

My students often laugh when I tell them my favorite Japanese musical artist is  X Japan.

When I was 15 years old, my cousin showed me a video he had downloaded (this was pre-YouTube) of what looked like a Western glam metal band in concert. I quickly learned the band, called X Japan, was actually Japanese, and their visual kei  style was unlike anything I had ever seen or heard. I was immediately drawn to their extravagant costumes, the relentless energy of drummer Yoshiki, and songs like “Kurenai” that transitioned from emotional ballad to driving power metal right in the middle of the track.

At the time, I figured I was the only 16-year old in Midwestern America listening to a burnt copy of X Japan’s  The Last Live album while driving around town. But in 2014, X actually performed at and sold out New York’s Madison Square Garden. While I was unable to go, a documentary called We Are X  was made about the concert and is now available on NetFlix. In addition to teaching me more about the band’s history, the film made me realize I was not the only American that grew up a fan of Yoshiki, Toshi, Heath, Hide (RIP) and all the rest. 

Long live X! 

–Andrew

Among all the sites I check and interact within on a daily basis is the well-known site Soundcloud. Focusing solely on streaming music for free and serving as a platform for many “bedroom producers” to share their music, it’s a good site to find obscure new music as well as keep up with the artists you follow even if it is a bit dated at this point. I do a lot of my searching for new music here (specifically electronica), and always find something that impresses me. From now on I’ll start sharing some of my findings in my Thursday posts.

My first share is “Hunted” by Lotic. They have been one of my favorite producers for a few years now and their debut album is about to be released this summer. To say the least I am very excited by this first single. It’s abrasive and some might even call it creepy, but the harmonies that come together in the swirling structure of the track create something much more than meaningless cacophony and strike me as unsettling and beautiful at the same time (a lot like the world itself!). There of course is a meaning to the chant but it’s not blatantly obvious. Their music is largely instrumental so it’s up to the listeners to peel the layers and find out for themselves.

If you read all that, bravo! I hope you enjoy this different perspective on music being made in this day and age.

Joe

I enjoy watching Disney Pixar movies and have a small collection of DVDs at home. I have watched them countless times mainly because of my of my three-year-old son, but I still get into it. I’d like to share a meme about one of Pixar’s movies I read a while back ago that really made me smile.

Can you guess the movie title?

‘I just watched a film where a man’s wife is brutally murdered by a serial killer and his son is left physically disabled. In a twisted turn of events his son is kidnapped and he has to chase the kidnapper thousands of miles with the help of a mentally disabled woman.’

If you guessed Finding Nemo, then you are right!

It is one of my all-time favorite animated movies. What is your favorite animated movie?

On Saturday, I took a trip to the Tobe Zoo. The weather was nice and I had a great time. This small zoo exceeded my expectations! I saw many amazing animals including Peace, the polar bear, and Diddy, the orangutan. Peace is famous for being the only hand-raised polar bear in Japan. She must have been very warm because she was busy soaking in her pool of cool water. Diddy the orangutan is huge! I was not expecting him to be so large. Watching him chow down on a head of lettuce was amazing! Speaking of eating, I was also able to feed the sea lions fish. I threw the fish high in the air and the sea lions caught it in their mouths. I was so impressed and amused by their fish-catching skills! I think the red pandas are my favorite, though. They are so cute and have so much energy!  What is your favorite animal at the Tobe Zoo?