Nothing major but I noticed all the TV channels are off. Every single one of them. Fortunately every station says it’s because they are doing some kind of earth based digital broadcast test. (vs satellite based). Still, it’s kind of freaky to have every single channel be off.
TV Blackout in Japan5 comments to TV Blackout in Japan |
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There’s always the net and (duh duh duuuuuhhhhhhh {ominous thirties horror music}) the RADIO! I will look a gift horse in the mouth and say that TV isn’t all it’s cracked up to be – regardless of whatever country you’re in. There’s also the video if you need the stimulation.
Books are good too – but having visited Japan I can imagine that the selection isn’t always tops and the prices are a bit cumbersome.
Japanese TV is notoriously boring unless you are into soap operas (although they call them dramas). So, I don’t generally watch but lately, just to have more Japanese pracitce I sometimes put it on in the background and hope something interesting distracts me.
There are a few programs I like though. Probably the most interesting IMO right now is “Shaberiba” (Discussion Place). 10 college students and one guest discuss / argue over some topic.
Radio in Japan is extremely boring. 50% of it is western music. I’m in Japan, I don’t want to hear western music. The other 50% is J-Pop which I also don’t want to hear. I did check the radio just to see that it was not also being tested. :-)
Fooly Cooly
When I was a kid, back in Brooklyn, a lot of teens in my neighborhood would huff Carbona cleaning fluid, or model glue (when it smelled kinda nice and gave you a buzz). I’m sure that helped them pass their time (and that most of them are now serving time!)!
There is a station in osaka that rotates formates every few hours. I would listen and get euro dance music, samba, reggae, irish rock…. really fringe stuff.
there has to be something similar in tokyo.