I might have mentioned this before, but one of the great things about Japan is that they have beer vending machines! My 20 minute train ride on Friday was spiced up with a big (500ml) can of Asahi Honnama draft. The trains here are excellent. Unlike back in Blighty they're on time. Every time. They never get cancelled and they're clean. Britain take note.
There's been lots going on recently. I've finished training and have been let out into the wild, so to speak. Today's beer is a bit different; it's a dark beer. The taste is bitter and subtly sweet, quite like Mild, unsuprisingly. It's a welcome change after two weeks of nothing but Japanese lager. (With a break for St. Patrick's, o'course). In other news Gareth and I braved a trip to Ise and fell foul of the unnecessarily complicated Japanese rail system. We took the Kintetsu line with a change, which we managed without too much of a mishap. It turns out that there's not really all that much to see at Ise, apart from a shrine or two. So we had noodles, saw the shrines (including a monk in a funny hat) and caught the fast train home. 
The Shrine at Ise
My first beer from Suntory seems to be a standard issue lager. Its claim is to be a 'Lively and crispy draft'. There's rather a sudden taste which mellows, but is still sharp. I suppose crispy is quite an apt description. 
Today's beer is another by Asahi (they make loads) called Gubinama. The can is covered in Sakura blossom, but sadly the beer itself isn't pink. It's a distinctive taste, very different to the super dry. It recorded a 'no - take it away' on the Gareth-o-meter, which is a par score for a beer. It's perhaps a little sour and again not very fizzy (this one hasn't been in my fridge). I'm keeping warm now under my new Kotatsu which is keeping me warm, saving me money on heating, and making my apartment all japanese in one fell swoop. No work today (woo!) as even trainees are given one day off a week; though I do have some homework to finish for tomorrow. Getting back to the beer, which has a nicely decorated can, probably heralding the Sakura which I must go and see, the aroma is almost sweet
Yesterday was my first day of training to be an English teacher; after which we all went out for drinks at Shooters, an American bar in the city. I was drinking Heineken there, which doesn't really deserve mentioning here. I watched some of the Japan - USA under 21 football, which was interesting to watch, especially in a bar full of Japanese and Americans.
