SnowJapan.Com#3 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 A new Interview - with forum member "gamera" - has been put online. http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/interviews-gamera.html "As you may well know if you visit these Forums, "gamera" is one of the popular Japanese regular posters over there. But who is this mysterious creature?! We spoke to gamera - whose name is Mr Masaki Bono. In 1989 he decided to quit his banking job in the city and to follow his dream of opening up his own business in a snow village. Here's his story of how he started his new business in Hakuba and tried to change with the times. Over to you, gamera...." http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/interviews-gamera.html Please note that the views expressed in any Features on Snow Japan are not necessarily those of Snow Japan. Discuss it here... Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 Good on ya, dude! It surely must be way better than banking. Link to post Share on other sites
me jane 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 Gamera, I like the part on your website where you write "We NEVER offer natto the rotten soybean to guests. Please dont worry." It made me laugh Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 Interesting read You're place looks really good and it's great that you made a decision to make yourself happy many years ago Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 Congratulations gamera, well done for getting off your backside and making it happen. Link to post Share on other sites
montoya 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 nice to learn more about gamera's place. looks like the banker background helped out alot in setting up the business.. Link to post Share on other sites
sakebomb 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 Nice one Gamera! Kinda motivating when someone takes their dream into reality. Congrats! Would love to get down there one day! Link to post Share on other sites
damian 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 Hi Gamera, I wish I had known about your place in my frequent weekend trips to Hakuba. In the beginning of my Japanese snow experience I didn't know so many other riders so I would just go up for a day trip on Saturday. If it snowed during the day then I would wander the town in the early evening looking for a pension or inn to stay in. With 5 words of Japanese available to me it was often a funny experience, but nearly everyone smiled and laughed. Most of the time I would forget to pack a towel and after my bath I had to dry myself with a roll of toilet paper. So my hint to you as a good Hakuba inn keeper: keep a few small towels for unexpected guests Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 7-11 : it is, less stress coz i work for myself. me jane - natto is a nice toy to tease baaaaaad gaijins Toque - sure, but it was hard to persuade/explain why to people worry about me. Sobriquet - if I were some more years older and got paid more from the bank, it might not have happened. I might have taken an easier way to stay being a bannker. Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Nice to hear more about you gamera. See you in Jan maybe. Link to post Share on other sites
minus 1 Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Good on ya gamera. Might see you in winter. Link to post Share on other sites
sunrise 0 Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Actually I like natto, and would be upset if I couldn't have it with a Japanese breakfast. (just ask Slow ) Nice article gamera. Good on you for following your own dream. I had similar issues of lack of understanding and support from family, etc, when I decided to go pro musician. ("when are you going to get a REAL job?"). I see you even host your own forums on your website. How do you find time to come here? Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 sunrise - only when I can. Link to post Share on other sites
montoya 0 Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Hey Gamera, do you see any big (or small) changes for Hakuba next season? Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Hum.. not yet, some are informed but I have to check if they are correct or not. Link to post Share on other sites
js 0 Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 You're a lucky dude Gamera - most people only get to live out part of their dream as a holiday, etc then go back to a disliked work place. Good to wake up in the morning and know that you can be as extravagant or as low-key as you like, eh? Congrats! Maybe one day I'll get there and pay yo'all a visit. P.S. Nice looking place. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 Nice interview Gamera! Love your pictures, finally was able to link the face with the person. やっぱじじだねーーーー Link to post Share on other sites
merryJim 1 Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 Do you do afternoon tea? Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Sub-zero : I know what you mean, if I didn't make the decision, no idea how I live now because the bank I worked for got bankrupted some years ago! Not easy to find a job in this country being over 35 years old especially if you don't have any special skills. tsondaboy : haha, you want some punches? lol merryJim : sometimes, now we have some peppermint, sparemint, so we can put some of them in a tea cup and also have some marow with which we can enjoy some "magic" tea. Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 What is "magic" tea? Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Soubriquet, if you pour some marow tea in a cup, it looks green / blue. But if you squeeze some lemon in it, it changes to pink! Link to post Share on other sites
sakebomb 0 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Ahh, And here I was expecting some magic mushroom brew Link to post Share on other sites
Curt 1 Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 Perhaps he could prepare that for you if you requested it. Very interesting to hear your story gamera. Link to post Share on other sites
taguchi 0 Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 gambatte gamera-san! Link to post Share on other sites
r45 4 Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Three cheers for gamera. Not sure about who this gamera character is that stole your nickname though Link to post Share on other sites
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