I am back, but…
Being cyberstalked was only the beginning of my troubles this year. Even the cyberstalker seemed to have lost interest in me, I was snowed under a torrent of challenging work – a partial result of which was that I was awarded a princely amount of bonus money last week. The bonus came in the form of a new award whereby no more than 5% of staff are recognized every half-year for “setting the standard for outperformance in our organization”. During the first round of this award, my name along with nine others were put forward.
Just like in school where it is always the same few kids getting the top grades, I can foresee that this special bonus being won by the same few individuals time after time. Presumably, this pool of winners will be considered the next generation’s leadership material who will someday take charge and lead. What this portends to the quality of my working life has yet to be unraveled, but the one sure thing is that free time will be in even scarcer quantity in the future.
I have not been idle in making use of what free time I have left. Among other things, I have been reading a long-running series called Gyakusetsu no Nihonshi (逆説の日本史) by Japan’s foremost conspiracy theorist Izawa Motohiko (井沢元彦), and (though long-winded at times) his observations about the course of Japanese history are most fascinating. I have also started reading the novels of Morimi Tomihiko (森見登美彦) after watching Yojohan Shinwa Taikei (四畳半神話大系), and that author is the personification of wit itself.
Scene from the movie "Ooku" (2010).
I also look forward to seeing the the live-action movie of Yoshinaga Fumi’s manga Ooku in October 2010. I check their official website almost every week for updates. Without doubt, Shibasaki Kou will be fabulous as the female shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune. I think I may even be around to catch the theatre release.
But what I want to get my hands on most is the CD drama of Ooku, with a stellar cast of Tanaka Atsuko (of Ghost in the Shell‘s Motoko fame) as Tokugawa Yoshimune and Konishi Katsuyuki (of Skip Beat‘s Tsuruga Ren fame) as Mizuno. But that CD just seems to be one of those things that cannot be had for love or money…
Welcome back! And congratulations on the award :D
For sometime now I’d been thinking something like you’d probably not post anything for the year but I guess this post explains your long absence. All I can add is enjoy your award and reward yourself for a job well done! :)
Congratulations on the award ^ ^
And scarcer free time is still better than you stop blogging at all :”). So, welcome back.
Congratulations on that award! I’m so glad you’re back (I, as well as everyone else, have missed your entries!).
I have often thought I should pick up Ooku on your recommendation – now that there is going to be a movie, that’s all the more reason. Good luck finding the drama cd!
Congratulations!
Is your title inspired by Ozu’s film “I was born, but…”?
I am glad you are back! As someone has said in the previous comments, a rare occasion is better than no occasion at all.
Congratulations on the award!
I’ve missed your posts! Although I’ve just been a lurker, I’m really happy you’re back. Hope everything will go well in the future *knocks on wood*
And congrats on your award! Glad to see that you watched Yojohan Shinwa Taikei; it was really hilarious and witty.
hayase:
Well… nothing is as simple as it seems. Awards at work are a totally different ball game from awards you had at school…
Evalyn:
A new face to this blog! – a warm welcome to you as well.
Mosuke:
Ooku is a must-read. Do yourself a favour and get it now!
Goldmund:
Finally, someone read my mind! Yes, I am a huge Ozu fan.
Ridiculus:
Yes, I have a lot of catch up on.
Nyitora:
A warm welcome to yet another new face. I wish you lurkers would speak up more often.
Welcome back, and congratulations on the award. Free time is scarce for me too, so I really appreciate you taking time to work on this blog. Since I stated graduate school, I couldn’t read your blog as frequently as I wanted to. You put so much effort and intellectual discussion into each topic. If it weren’t for your blog, I would have missed some truly great anime, manga, and artists. Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Nina:
No need to thank me. The sole purpose of my entire earthly existence is to spread beauty and wit. That, and nothing else. ^-^
As for grad school… I for one am skeptical about the usefulness of it at large, but I am sure it was decision you have thoroughly considered, so I can only wish you luck.
aaa it’s so good to see your back!
i’ve heard of Ooku and i’d love to be able to see the film! hopefully they’ll be subbed dvd release of it! i need to read it as well!
…and congratulations on the award!
susperia:
Long time no see.
The image kinda reminds me of the series entitled “Otomen.”
No, it is galaxies away from “Otomen”…