Happy Japanada Day

Inexplicably, Perry found us a Canadian cafe in his town, in the heart of Inaka Japan. In Perry's town--2000 fruit-growing souls spread along 8 kilometers of highway, inland from the slightly more densely populated coast--Perry found a log cabin called "Lac De Jeune" that serves steak and apple pie dinners, with a Canadian section on the menu and a Canadian flag hanging inside.

It was ridiculous.

And, of course, when we asked the proprietor about the Canadian connection and told her that today was Canada Day and we were Canadians, she looked at us like we had three heads.

Apparently Canadian food is comprised of spare ribs and nothing else.

After dinner in Niki, we headed back to my place in Furubira and observed Japanada Day in true Japanada Day fashion, by drinking Canadian Club and beer, and taking in Transformers.

Also, pancakes and Maple Syrup--real Canadian Amy Thede Maple Syrup.

Oh Canada

As I prepare to celebrate my first Japanada Day with my Canadian pal Perry from a couple of towns over, I started the day with the following kicking tune from MSTRKRFT (or Mastercraft, if you like vowels, or Death From Above 1979, if you like history), an outfit out of Toronto and some good Canadian theme music to get you going on a Canada Day (also, the video is rad).

Heartbreaker by MSTRKRFT (featuring John Legend)

Sure, John Legend's a Yank, but I'll allow it. As Perry and I quest for what little Canadian content there is in Hokkaido fishing towns tonight, the following will be beating in the back of my mind.

"You're in my mind

You're in my heart

I wish I knew right from the start..."

And then tonight, after we've drunkenly taken in Transformers the Animated Movie and all of its 80s Rock singalong wonderfulness ("You've got the TOUCH!"), as is tradition on Japanada Day, I will lay my head down to rest with the following running through it from the fine boys of Said The Whale out in Vancouver...

"Fighting with the currents of the Georgia Strait

Fighting with the wind and the tidal wave

I lost my love that day..."

Curse of the Currents by Said The Whale

It should be noted that I have Mark Rostrup to thank for the musical portions of the above.