和 Media 有缘 (II)

This is one exceptional event I'm deeply involved in, which received lots of media coverage. Thanks to the trip, I was able to come in contact with the media crew, experience the feeling of being interviewed, play a interpreter role etc. I am also surprised at how selective they are in editing the footage/information. Out of everything they shot during the trip, only 10% or so made it into TV programmes. Out of everything I replied during the interviews, about 10% made it to public. Haha.

Pre-trip article in Straits Times.

Corresponding coverage in 联合早报.

Video clip from NHK (Japan's major news broadcasting company), showing us at the Inauguration Ceremony held before the trip.

My debut appearance in Straits Times. (not counting the person with exact same full name who occasionally writes to the forum page)
The origin of Mr Ng. (actually I haven't turned 24 yet lol...)

I think it's not very appropriate to reveal the 'behind-the-scene' matters here, but what I can say is: News articles can display certain bias through the kind of words used. I'm actually taken aback by how 八卦 and straightforward, as well as how hardworking a journalist can be. Anyway the online article link has many negative, not-very-nice comments...

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_709333.html

It's very easy to get cynical over such publicity.

Almost got interviewed by 联合早报. They took an individual shot of me, then no follow-up haha.

We appeared in My Paper 我报 too! With more colourful pictures.

Yay I have a solo picture in a Japanese news website Jiji (时事).

焦点's story on reconstruction efforts in Rikuzentakata.

After a more international 焦点, here comes a more gossipy 前线追踪.

Portion of my interview reply. Voice only. The sentence looks a little ungrammatical, because the '就' is added into the subtitles from nowhere haha... Prior to being interviewed, I was telling the crew that I only need to say one good punchline, to save their efforts of editing. They insisted in doing a 'full interview' anyway. And well indeed, only that 'line' made it.

Hungry and Cute

More pictures to share with you all:

Sign reads 'Beef tongue stick'. Still can stick out tongue and smile somemore...

You need a roulette to decide which bin to throw your trash into.

Mr Samurai will grant your wish by hacking and slashing.

Hungry Ghost Festival

Feeble attempt in planking (when you don't wish to get your face soiled in asphalt)

Such meals really test your decision-making skills (in deciding which order the dishes should be eaten).

老大来喽！

Another of those utensils/crockery-filled set meals. I really pity the dishwashers.

Sendai-style ramen, from a food court. Don't let the chilli on the spoon fool you, it's not that spicy actually.

大宴会 indeed. First time having a meal in such a grand setting, in a large dinning hall meant to serve more than 100 patrons.

Few problems: 1) The centre is obvious, but is my 'side table' at the left or right? 2) You sit facing someone at the opposite row, but the distance is too far to interact. Feels awkward. 3) The entire row is continuously lined with these little tables. Not possible to cross to the other side without walking all the way to the ends. And no one in their right etiquette will lift their legs over the dishes. Well, there is a simple way to overcome this though.

No, this is not a zoom-in of my previous photo. Look, the set is different! This lavish spread is my breakfast!! (on the following morning)

Off to Tokyo with Pikachu!

A big thank you to my fellow teammates for making this trip so enjoyable! (by the way the beer bottle I'm holding was an individual portion, but I could only finish barely 1/3 of it. There wasn't enough bottles to go around, so I actually deprived some people from drinking...oops)

宁夏

Besides all the hustle and bustle, we had the chance to visit cultural relics and experience the serenity of Japan. In the country of rich culture and long history, there is much more to feel and explore. Not to forget the mountainous backdrop painted with lush greenery.

Nice little shrine

Japanese shrines usually sell these charms, which make good souvenirs. But not cheap at all.

Drop a coin in and pick a fortune slip. So many types?!

May the 伊達 spirit be with Sendai & Miyagi Prefecture

The 伊達 samurai gang comes to life. They really know how to 耍帅 leh.

Uniquely Japanese Gate.

What's up with this pillar?

People are sticking coins inside the cracks! (free cash for looters)

When we saw this pasture at one of the universities we visited, everyone got excited and started to run around like kids, taking jump-shots, owl-shots, or whatever-shots. The Japanese students must be thinking: Are Singaporean kids so deprived of such nature?

In the morning, we were greeted by this wonderful view when we drew open the room curtains at a hot spring hotel.

Picturesque.

Sendai Airport (仙台空港)

Sendai Airport was devastated by the tsunami on 3.11.

This is how it looks now. Normal operations have resumed.

Though the halls are still a bit sparse.

The tsunami came from this direction - the sea visible beyond.

The restaurant has been closed since that fateful day. Rearranging the display properly seems to be the least of concern.

Words of encouragements from the Japanese, along with cranes and flowers.

Towards recovery!

和 Media 有缘

This '缘' seems to be limited only to Japan. In my past 3 trips to Japan, I've encountered experiences with the media, both SG and Japanese.

The 1st time, 2 years ago, our activity was covered in a Japanese newspaper.

The 2nd time, upon reaching Tokyo from Hokkaido, my brother and I were interviewed (in Chinese, through an interpreter) by Japan's broadcasting station at a tourist spot, regarding how tourists feel about going to Japan after the tsunami/nuclear crisis. I was not able to watch the programme from SG since I did not subscribe to NHK Channel. But I think I spoke pretty well considering it was so impromptu and some of the questions were really difficult to answer. (I'm thankful that watching Channel 8 news helped me in using the appropriate terms and vocabulary haha)

As for the 3rd time, in Tohoku, Mediacorp followed my group all the way throughout the trip, so I might be captured a lot in the video clips.

Looks like I'm being interviewed right? Haha nope, I played as an interpreter. Now I realise interpreting from one language to another can be really tough! In fact I found it harder to translate from Japanese (listen) to Chinese (speak) than vice versa. Sounds counter-intuitive right? Haha.

This time I'm really being interviewed! (after rejecting once) What a unique place to be interviewed - inside a bullet train.

Not very related but I guess it's something to do with 'media'. This huge poster appeared in Natas Fair. I was there but didn't see it (I must be blind lol). What made those pictures so special is that it was taken by someone who followed my group, so I actually appeared in quite a few pictures. (don't know if you can see from this resolution)

So where did all the Channel 8 stuff go to? The answer is...Tonight! 1st September 2011, 10:30pm, Channel 8, 焦点 (after 晚间新闻). Tonight's programme will cover our trip to Tohoku. This programme is not available through Xinmsn, so don't miss it! (if you want to see what I've done in the trip, as well as my interview =p, provided it's not cut away lah haha)

I'm just praying it won't show me dancing in the festival lol.

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