So, this is the end of Gaijin Smash.
But wait, hold your horses! I'm not retiring...yet. I do feel older. I see the kids with their Facebook and their Lady Gaga and iPhones, and I think back on the good 'ol days when, if we wanted to talk to people, we actually went to their house. We listened to good music like Boyz II Men, and Steve Jobs wasn't preparing to become our new evil overlord (quite the opposite, actually...).
But for reasons, many of which are beyond my control, I have to change the name of this site.
But wait... many of you are undoubtedly saying...you're still alive?
First off, obviously yes I am still alive. Last update in...December? Wow, that's half a year ago! Doesn't even feel like it.
So lots of things have gone down between December and now that have kept me busy. I went back to America for Christmas (1st time in 6 years), I dove even further into the Japanese salaryman world, then I changed jobs/careers. I've been sick, injured, and a wonderful combination of both.
On the technological forefront, as most of you know the Rudius Media network went down in a fiery ball of flames. I planned to move Gaijin Smash back to my Outpost Nine site/server. But then my server went through an update, and in the process there are now monthly bandwidth limits. Outpost Nine tended to hit that limit around the mid-way part of the month. So for half the time I couldn't even access my own site.
Then the gaijinsmash.net domain actually expired. I had been trying to gain possession of it, but its still under the control of RM and there isn't anything I can do about it without their help. I have been contacting people on their end but they haven't been getting back to me. And now it looks like a German blogger has gained control of the gaijinsmash.net domain. This is a good opportunity for me to just change the name of the site and get my own domain for it. I actually never was a huge fan of "Gaijin Smash". A lot of people misinterpreted it as me, and many other foreigners, just bulldozing our way through Japanese culture. And while that does happen, I personally feel like I've come way past that stage. Don't get me wrong, being a large black man still has a huge impact on Japanese people, but I don't really feel like I'm smashing anything these days.
Plus, I feel that the focus of this blog (yes, I will actually call it a blog now) is going to change. When I started it, it was a nice outlet for me to air my grevances and surprises about how different and quirky Japanese culture can be at times. I just can't do that anymore. I've been here for almost 7 years now, and very few things surprise me anymore. Now I'm just a guy who happens to live here. Granted, some things that happened in the past are still fairly jaw-dropping, but those incidents are now few and far between, and I don't feel like making a big deal out of the few that do happen anymore.
So it feels like a good time to refocus things a bit. Stop trying to be fish-out-of-water Gaijin and just write about the stuff I want to, even if its not off the wall or eyebrow bending. That, and I can't make blog posts in German. I could try, but I'd probably end up offending at least 32 UN countries. I'd like to keep my "Countries I've Offended" list in the single digits if possible. Makes obtaining visas a bit more easier.
Of course, I Am a Japanese School Teacher/Gaijin Smash will live on in the archive. That off-the-wall nonsense will never stop being crazy. Although I kinda understand now all the critics I had back then. I read through the old posts and I think "Wow, there's no way this nonsense actually happened!" despite me being the guy it actually happened to. Truth really is stranger than fiction.
So, thanks to all who enjoyed the stories. I had fun writing them, and it helped me keep my sanity even when everything else seemed completely insane. I think one of the greatest compliments a writer can get is to just have people want to read what you write. I had a lot of readers, and that meant a lot to me.
...But enough of that sentimental crap. Farewell, Gaijin Smash.
Hope to see you over at the new site, Gaijin Chronicles!
Serious, that'll be missed Az. I've never commented, but read almost from the beginning. Strangely enough, but for a turn of fate I'd have been about 2 years behind you. A big (half) black guy teaching English in Japan.
Still might happen though. If it does, I'll try and look you up.
Thanks for the laughs, the entertainment, and just for letting me see a foreign place through some fairly familiar eyes.
-EvoSol
Dude, I just have to say thank you for writing about all that crazy shit way back then. It was the first Japan blog I read, and it made me laugh, gasp and want to leave my boring life and move to Japan...
Well, I am finally here, I've been in Shizuoka for 2 months and I'm teaching English. My own blog (and many more) will hopefully continue to capture those strange moments until they no longer come as a surprise to me either. So, I just wanted to say thank you - I'm glad I stumbled across your blog 6 years ago. Otherwise, hey, who knows, I might still be working in a coffee shop in England, and that sucked. :)
HE'S ALIVE!!!
Ok, good.
No more Gaijin Smash? Don't have a problem with that. I always preferred Oupostnine. It's more... "Sci-fi-ish" (yes, I'm a geek. shut up) Another option for a name would be "Azrael... something".
And hey, just because you're used to Japan doesn't mean we all, readers, are.
So good luck on the new site, I'm gonna check it out now.
Just for the record, that is not a blogger, but just a domain squatter disguised as one.
He is alive!
Too bad there will be no more gaijin smash. But I'll be looking forward to read what your going to post on the new site.
Well, I'm still checking for updates every day after all this time, so there's got to be something to your writing.
Azrael, I have been wondering what had happened to you! Glad to hear you're still around.
I perfectly understand your reasons for giving up Gaijin Smash - 7 years is indeed a long time, during which many things will change. I want to thank you for giving us some of the most hilarious, well-written and sometimes touching stories from Japan. They may have been stranger than fiction, but you made them real. Hopefully they will remain archived for a long time.
So long and thanks for all the kancho...
I'm grateful to have stumbled onto your blog in 04, I was a fresh faced 24 year old working the dead end 9 to 5. Thankyou for the many great reads Az, you were (and are) my preferred blog.
Your writing stood the test of time, and as corny as this may be... as a 30 year old now, I can say that a little part of your personality scrubbed off on me and helped me grow into a good old man. Art, Cinema, writing...if you find something that has a lasting effect, it's safe to say its great. outpostnine was that great thing for me.
Cheers and if I am ever in town, I at least owe you a beer and battle...my preferred is SF alpha 3...or anything old school :)
Azrael,
as a long time reader first time commenter, i'd just like to say that ive loved reading about your crazy and absolutely hilarious stories over in nippon. Your writing style has kept me thoroughly entertained through the study sessions over the years and becoming a 'salaryman' myself now it kinda marks the end of a carefree era you unwittingly shared with me. In saying that, its actually encouraging to hear that youre still alive and im looking forward to reading your stuff over at the new site which i'll be heading to now.
So yeh, thanks for the memories. Cheers!
and I thought between all those site changes I just lost your track and waited on an empty website!
See you on the other side!
Oh this site and archives are staying up, right? Or am I going to need to download every single page? One of my friends is actually signing up for JET right now and I'd hate it if he couldn't read your experiences...
Hey Az, glad to hear you're still alive! Your blog has been informative and just plain fun to read all these years and it's good to know you'll keep on writing.
By the way, is there any chance of you putting the old pictures from the Rudius days back into their entries (Moeko's Owl, etc.)? I know it would be quite a bit of work and I'm sure you barely have any free time as it is (especially with a kid on the way), but that would be nice to see.
Thanks for all the great stories; I wish you well on your future efforts.
He's alive!!!...Just had to get that outta the way. Was worried things weren't going well but glad to know its not so. I started reading your blog abt 2 yrs ago and its been so entertaining I've occassionally checked for updates during ur absence. Oh and am planning a trip to Japan late this yr or early next just to find out how much stories i can come up with (even if only for 2 weeks). I feel u on having to move on as I'm 26yrs and priorities have changed. Anyhow thx for all the great stories and I hope u keep writing cause i will always definately read. Btw how's ur wife doing and how are the baby plans coming along? Oh and seriously consider compiling ur sotries into a published memoir of sorts, even if u don't do so for a couple of yrs. Holla at me if u need strategic planning on how to successfuly do it
First time commenter here (or maybe second time). Your blog was one of many things which introduced me to Japan, thanks for that. Although you're continuing the blog, i feel bit sad that Gaijin Smash is over. Anyway will you archive all previous posts to new site? Afterall it's Gaijin Chronicles :P
Gotta admit I'll miss Gaijin Smash but, I'll make sure to check the chronicles.