gerard

Here's a short explanation: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/encyclopedia/density_snow.htm I've heard something like that about Niseko too. It's hard to assign a magic number because density depends on the temperature and where the storm is coming from.

that's a pretty scary looking line spud. Looks like a big glacial mess at the bottome of it too.

that hotspring looks really cool. must be great in winter.

I've heard that people in Tohoku and areas along the Japan Sea are notoriously conservative and not very friendly. It seems to me that different areas of Japan have quite different local cultures and that appears to be a common stereotype held by people in more southern locations. Actually, I spend most of my time trying to break down stereotypes but I thought I'd dispense with PC.

OK, Here's my short list of cities or prefectures I'd like to move when I get out of Tokushima: Nagano Kobe Gifu Kochi My wife says that people are pretty lame in Toyama, Niigata and most of Tohoku so those areas are off the list pending further evidence. And Sapporo's too cold for her though I'm working on that one. Kobe is a little far from snow country but I really like the city and Hachikita ski-jo in Northern Hyogo would tide me over in between better ski trips. Kochi is REALLY far from snow country but it's a distinctly amazing city and prefecture with great surf, kic

I guess 'exotic' is a relative term. My oldest buddy said he couldn't find Japan on the map. Mind you he became a full time pothead around the time that I went off to University to pursue knowledge with enthusiasm and zeal.

I'm looking to make a move in 6 or 18 mnths. Right now I'm having a bad day so maybe 6 mthns. Know of any good Uni jobs in Nagano?

"Why leave the main island when you dont have to?" If I was in nagano I probably wouldn't leave... but some of us aren't on the 'main island' to begin with.

This is why I've changed my expectations when I meet old friends. Reminiscing goes better than getting caught up if nothing has changed back in Canada and Japan is of no interest to them. A few years ago I went back after doing a long trip in SE Asia. I was psyched to tell my friends about it but I think they were thinking "Where the fck is that?!" Not that I went to the most exotic countries --some of my friends just aren't very smart.

I'm in Tokushima. I was in Kochi for many years, which is a great city despite being TOO FAR from the snow. Tokushima however is kind of lame. I'll probably move in a year or so and I'd like to be closer to snow country. Is Nagoya as bleak as the image that I have? If it is, then I can cross it off my list. (Nagano would be perfect or course.)

"Please take umbrella when it raining. Please do not take other peoples ones." That actually makes sense to me. I like the weather reports that tell you what kind of clothing is suitable and weather or not you should hang your laundry at the end of the report.

"it seems that most SJ's are not a fan of this resort" I wasn't under that impression. I think Niseko's the place people like to dis. I've never been to Furano in winter but I hear it's good. Not quite as much snow as Niseko but colder with some good back country and less people. It must be steeper too. I've heard you can ski down the back face and take a dip in a hotspring half way down.

I haven't skied Utah but I've skied the Canadian Rockies and Whistler on big powder days all the way down to the village. I never knew pow could be so light and dry until skiing Hokkaido. And as far as quantity goes, it seems like places in Hokkaiko and Tohoku get more snow -- actually a lot more snow if you can believe it --than even the snowiest places in North America. Nagano gets heaps (except New Years 1997). Even places much further south max out at about a 2 meter base. Check out the 'Now' records on this websight. Some of the snowiest places may not be listed but Niseko, Hokkaid

That evokes a strange image. suddenly a huge mass of cloaked monks is coming at you. Chanting in strange tongue... taking casualties but continuing to advance... slowly but steadily. Could be a good b-rate war flick.

Quote: Planning to go either Niseko or Rusutsu in March 07. But no idea where to go in early January If you're going to Hokkaido and another place, I'd do Hokkaido first, in early Jan for the snow... then further south (Nagano) in March. (I know it could happen anywhere but I'm still pissed at having to ski on crud in Hakuba over New Years a while back. I don't live in ski country so my ski vacations are really precious).

Yeah that would piss me off. Racist Buddhists... I was in Koya staying at a temple and one of the halls was decked with rising sun flags, pictures of WW2 battle ships and other paraphernalia. I thought "What's with that?!" --I might not have been as surprised had it been a Shinto place. Seems like there's a right wing nationalist faction in Japanese Buddhism.

I seems like my friends didn't recognize the latter meaning of cheese. Maybe my strange Englishes from too much year in Japan has just become a bit of a running gag.

'Is it really?' --I mean -- 'Are they really?' I think it's used in both ways but uncountable would seem to be the preference (depending on context). Eg. "I ate a lot of cheese", "How much cheese do we have?" "That store has many KINDS of cheese" ... ... vs. "I ate a lot of cheeses", "How many cheeses do we have" "That store has many cheeses" But as Soubriquet said, we don't want to get bogged down with form at the expense of meaning. As such, I won't profrede thsi mesage bforee sindingg it

I just got back from vacation in Canada. I found the biggest culture shock was as soon as I stepped on the airplane in Kansai. Aside from being an overall crappy airline, the flight attendants on 'North West' are SOOO casual compared to what I'm used to (and not remotely as attractive as on any Asian airline). After that, it wasn't so hard to adjust.

If by chance you want to impress, just talk about the black current finish if it's red, or the apricot hue if it's white. Or you could just compare the wine to random exotic vetetables (like artichoke) and see what kind of response you get.

In 'I'd like a shrimp pasta', 'shrimp' is acting as an adjective to describe 'pasta' so it shouldn't be pluralized. Actually though, in certain circles uncountables are increasingly becoming countable so in the future we might all be counting our corns. Here's another one. I was recently in a store called the Cheese Boutique while visiting Canada. I remarked that I was amazed at 'all of the cheeses'. I defended my choice of words. Am I fit to be an English teacher?

I like wine. I find it hard to go wrong with Aussy wine. Even cheap stuff like the Shiraz with the big kangaroo on the bottle that you often see in grocery stores is pretty good (a little better the second day). I'll try that Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet that you guys have recommended. I would never get Japanese wine if you're pouring it for anyone might like good wine. Generally, Japanese know no more about wine than they know about cheese. Plus it rains way too much in this country. Domestic grapes should be eaten, not made into wine.

It's true that Niseko lacks steeps, but so does every other ski resort in Japan. It seems to me a lot of people who live in Nagano have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to Niseko. First of all, the pic of Yotei in the background is not misleading. It's obviously just scenery and not lift served. People do climb it and ski down however. In that sense you could call it 'Niseko back country' ... and it's certainly more challenging than the front face of the peak that Le spud posted! Actually the back face of the peak is also a lot more challenging but the pictures were obviously chose

Canadian (still)

I'm looking for a new pair of skis. I want a good all-round down-hill shaped ski that can handle a bit of speed and powder but get me through moguls occasionally too. I bought the best (and longest) pair of skis I could find on Shikoku but returned them because the finished chipped horribly anytime the skis came in contact with another object. Plus they were too short and not quite stiff enough. I'm heading to NYC and Toronto in a week. Any advice on where I should buy skis. I could go to a bigger city on Honshu too.