From kawachi.jrdc.go.jp!sandy Wed Apr 17 01:03:12 1996 From: Sandy Willmott To: Strange Blue Subject: A huck from Tokyo Hi there, I thought it was about time that I put finger to keyboard, and caught up with news from the Strange crew. (My apologies to those too young to have had the privilege of seeing my sidearm and the wonderful patterns it threw on a windy day.......just bin this message). Life is going pretty well: Tokyo is a fairly westernised city in most respects, and one research lab is the same as any other so I haven't had too much of a culture shock. My Japanese is coming on slowly. I've just returned from a weekend in Nagoya at the West Japan Open. I'm playing for the Yoyogi Bears - a 'pick-up' team of foreigners (mainly) who play on a Sunday at Yoyogi Park (hence the witty name..). The grass isn't up to much and we have to play in the midst of thousands of locals playing badminton, soccer, and flying kites (all in a world of their own!), but it is a weekly dose of disc..and this place does have the benefits of public hot baths where you can soak away the stiffness afterwards. Most of the players are Yanks (fortunately most aren't presidential candidates) but there are a smattering of Canadians and Europeans. I met another Brit in Nagoya who had played against a Cambridge team for the Coventry Cheetahs (who they?) about ten years ago! The tournament was my first taste of Japanese-style Ultimate. They're pretty frenzied - it's liking playing against seven Matt Robbs (with at least another ten on the subs bench). They even have a few teams from companies who actively recruit people for their Ultimate ability. We got stuffed by the latter, but managed to notch up three wins against weaker university sides. There was a surprising lack of Spirit in evidence, and some downright fraudulent calls...but it was fun. And it gave me an excuse for trying out the Bullet Trains - a much more pleasant way of getting to tournaments than driving halfway across the country with Chris Mills and his backside (though a hell of a lot more expensive.....the travel anyway - I wouldn't know about the backside). I met a guy from Keio Uniersity who had played at the World Clubs and remembered playing against the English team with the guy who was real old (..but pretty good). Is that right, Arfon...did Violently play against the Huskies?! Anyway, if anyone is ever in the area then get in touch. Otherwise any news from Blighty will be gratefully received. Did 'Darwin's Revolution" hold onto the winning lead which I helped them get in the league?! Cheers for now, Sandy $8^) PS. Has anyone found Hayley's shoe? Has David M. found Zen Buddhism?